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George Gillespie

1613–1648

Youngest divine at Westminster; demolished the Erastian case in *Aaron’s Rod Blossoming*.

Scottish Commissioners The Supralapsarians

Departs from the Confession on Order of Decrees: Supralapsarian not Deliberately-Permits-Both · Covenant of Redemption: Explicit-Developed not Implicit-Affirmed

Biography

Only 30 when he arrived in London, Gillespie was the youngest commissioner and quickly emerged as the sharpest debater. His famous extempore reply to Selden on the keys (1645) became Westminster lore; *Aaron's Rod Blossoming* (1646) is the canonical Reformed refutation of Erastianism. He returned to Scotland exhausted, was elected Moderator of the General Assembly in 1648, and died of consumption later that year aged only 35.

Principal works

  • A Dispute against the English Popish Ceremonies (1637)
  • Aaron’s Rod Blossoming (1646)
  • A Treatise of Miscellany Questions (1649)
Role at the Assembly

Scottish Commissioner

Under the Solemn League and Covenant (1643) the Church of Scotland sent commissioners — ministers and ruling elders — to sit with the Assembly. They had voice in debate but no formal vote, yet their influence on the Standards, especially on worship and presbyterian polity, was decisive. Alexander Henderson, Samuel Rutherford, George Gillespie, and Robert Baillie were the leading ministerial commissioners.

Party in 12 cruxes

Ontology placement · 2 overrides of 35

I. ✦ Scripture
Sufficiency Express-And-Good-Consequence Canon 66-Book-Protestant-Canon Authority Self-Authenticating-With-Internal-Witness Interpretation Scripture-Interprets-Scripture Necessity Necessary-After-The-Fall
II. ✠ God & Decree
Trinity Nicene-With-Filioque Order of Decrees Supralapsarian Deliberately-Permits-Both Extent of Atonement Particular Reprobation Preterition-And-Just-Condemnation Covenant of Redemption Explicit-Developed Implicit-Affirmed
III. ⊕ Covenant
Number of Covenants Bi-Covenantal Mosaic Covenant Administration-Of-Grace Children of Believers Federal-Inclusion-Paedobaptist Testamental Continuity One-Substance-Different-Administrations
IV. ☧ Christology
Natures Chalcedonian-Two-Natures Offices Prophet-Priest-King States & Descent Humiliation-And-Exaltation; No-Local-Descent Active-Obedience Imputation Active-And-Passive-Obedience-Imputed
V. ✚ Soteriology
Effectual Calling Effectual-And-Renewing Justification Ground Imputed-Righteousness-Of-Christ Saving Faith Receptive-Resting-On-Christ-Alone Perseverance Certain-For-The-Elect Assurance Attainable-But-Not-Essence-Of-Faith
VI. ⚖ Law & Sanctification
Uses of the Law Three-Uses-Affirmed Tripartite Division Moral-Judicial-Ceremonial Sabbath Lords-Day-Fourth-Commandment-Perpetual Good Works Necessary-Fruit-Not-Meritorious
VII. ☩ Ecclesiology & Worship
Polity Presbyterian-Jure-Divino Sacramental Efficacy Signs-And-Seals-Conferring-Grace-By-Spirit Regulative Principle Strict-Only-What-Commanded Censures & Synods Three-Degrees-With-Graded-Synods
VIII. ⌛ Civil & Last Things
Magistrate's Role Custos-Utriusque-Tabulae (1646) Oaths & Marriage Oaths-Lawful-Serious; Divorce-Adultery-Or-Desertion Intermediate State Immediate-Conscious-With-God-Or-Judgment Final Judgment Single-Universal-Judgment-By-Christ
Cite this divine

Study Reformed, “George Gillespie” (Divine), Westminster Standards Atlas, version 79a5f9880ac1, https://studyreformed.com/atlas/cite/persona/george-gillespie/.

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